Bulldogs Shut Out Brown, 3-0, Thanks to Snikeris' 31 Saves

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -
It didn't take long for Yale freshman goalkeeper Jackee Snikeris to record her first collegiate shutout -- two games to be exact. Snikeris' 31 stops, including 14 in the second period, helped the Bulldogs post a 3-0 win at Brown Saturday afternoon.

"She was fantastic," said Yale head coach Hilary Witt. "In the first period she made some saves that made you go `Thank God'. She made big saves at big times, and she made it look simple."

Yale's second line, the Resor-Schwartz-Tittman trio has now combined for four goals and five assists in the season's first three games.

"That line has been putting a lot of pressure on the opponents," Witt said. "That was a nice goal, and Helen made a nifty pass."

Brown (1-2-0, 1-2-0 ECAC) was late coming out of its locker room at the start of the second period, resulting in a protocol violation penalty that gave Yale a power play. Sophomore forward Denise Soesilo made the most of the opportunity, scoring her first goal of the year off an assist by freshman forward Bray Ketchum.

The game turned late in the second when a pair of Yale penalties gave Brown a 5-on-3 that lasted for 1:36, including 24 seconds at the start of the third period. Snikeris stopped all four Bear shots to eliminate any chance of a comeback. For the game Yale killed off eight penalties and the Bulldogs have now killed off 15 of 16 for the year.

"It started with Snik," Witt said of Yale's penalty-killing proficiency. "When we got in trouble, she was there. We did a good job in not letting Brown set up. Bray is very good at getting the puck out of the zone, and Sarah Tittman's been amazing down low for over a year now."

The Bulldogs got a 5-on-3 of their own later, and Soesilo struck again off another Ketchum assist.

"Denise was great today," Witt said. "It was more than just the two goals. She played well defensively and made some nice passes."

Ketchum now has three points and has filled a key role on the line that includes Soesilo and junior forward Crysti Howser, Yale's leading scorer from a year ago.

"Bray is definitely a playmaker," Witt said. "She's got great hands. That line is playing fantastic."

Yale (2-0-1, 2-0-1 ECAC) is atop the ECAC Hockey standings with five points after three games. The Bulldogs travel to Cornell and Colgate next weekend.